Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-02
BASE HALL MATrERS.
comments ON the Conspesistoa a1a
Prospects 81 the Home Club

had to be omitted. Yesterday there were three
base ball teams In Washington, but all
were compelled TO remain In doors The Hamii-
tons went TO Richmond yesterday, but the
Amhefsts VIII remain here until Monday when
they go TO Baltimore. The Amherst team would
like TO play two or three morning games with the
Nationals next week, and they would
be gladly accommodated, but for their wish
PARK Is IN q Hooded condition Just now,
thing to nghts The grounds NAV be NJ S 10 plsy
on Monday afternoon, with the aid OF sawdust but
tne probability is that 1t viii be Tuesday or We'd
est they deprecate the bad weaiheF more NJ snsn
any one else for they feel that they were Just be-
they Win nave 10 e0Ca wons condition and nov
sides they are all very enthusiastic and are anx-
ioos 70 commence operations. They feel in par
isfactory condition OF affairs. They are confident
OF their individual ability TO play bali and are on
excellent terms with one another and with the
THE NKN n PRACTICE.
when they last practiced on the ball neld to-
gether, wednesday afternoon, the good feeling
prevailing among them was evident to q casual
spectator. With the aid of q few unattached
players two mines were In the field, and undee Man
ager Gaf1ney's supervision the new playing rules
were thoroughly tested. Each OF the I'VE pitchers
on the ground were given a chance in the box and
although some took TO the new rules better than
others. none were very greatly handicapped by
what difficult to conne himself to limited preiim.
mary movements in delivering the ball but he i'm
proved rapidly and there is no reason TO fear that
relatively speaking The fact that under the new
rules the pitcher Is allowed to take q step with
the foremost foot and then 10 raise the rear foot
wrenehing OF the body which was predicted before
the changes were thoroughly understood. Keefe
surprised everybody by the ease with which he
a0aDtpd himself the ylc e.
graceful and he delivers the bah with precision
and Judgment. He will be given an opportunity to
April games to see what Is In him AS was pre-
dicted, Big ODay is In no way affected by the new
rules. The only change he has been compelled to
make In his delivery Is to turn his body a little
more. He is delighted that Daely has been as
signed TO catch him, and thinks that he has at
Daely has shown up spiendidiy in practice behind
the bat. He is no less grained that he is to be al
the receiving end OF the alley when ODay occu-
twirlers In the country. Gilmore, like shaw was
somewhat hampered by the changes, but win be
all right ih with little practice Heating has not
but he has many good points, and with careful
training may prove OF great value. His drop ball
pitchers will be released, at least In the near
future. This may surprise some who think that
II will be impossible to use six pitchers TO advan-
the new rules all pitchers more or less expert
ments, Manager Ganney's foresight I'm determin-
ing 10 start In Wett-equlpped In the twirtng de-
In speaking 10 STAR reporter on the subject
Gaffney expressed a willingness to pay the saia-
provided the club would Keep them under contract
and he should have entire charge OF their training
and final disposal He was confident that be could
make nice speculation out OF them before the
season Is over.
In view OF the near approach OF the champion-
ship season. 1t may be wei to inform the public
just how the home club now stands as to PLAYERS
and its probable composition for the regular sea.
son. Paul Hines is the only player OF the 81 en-
gagged who has not come TO time. Several days
ago terms were agreed upon, and his contract was
prepared for his signature, bat, for some unex-
pla1nea r reason, ne stu nods on Whitney
commence business Myers contract was for.
warded TO him several days ago. and he arrived
both signed, and their contracts have been ofiici
ally promulgated by President Young. McGlone
win be released at an early day at his own re-
quest He thought that be could not do justice TO
himself on third base, knowing that two men
OBrten and Donnelly, were strong candidates for
the same position. Two ofIera one OF ezOO and
one OF $500, for his release have already been re-
ce1ved. AS the smaller amount was double hts
cost he viii prove profit to the management Crane
as the demand for his services already good, viii
be better when e, some OF the clubs want
replace en- SanaT ala with isa
I'm securing Crane, for at that time the result Oh
the st. LOuiS-kanSaS City deal was very
problematicaL He was the best man avaiiabis,
and il WAS necessary to form a team. he viii
prove financial profit also. Baker viii not play
on the regular nine: The maan batteries win con-
ney and Mack, and Gilmore and one OF the three
catchers, with keatng and Keefe IS extra twirl-
ers. Krieg win continue to cover nrst bag, Far
viii play short from the start 6Bnen viii be the
regular third baseman. provided he turns out as
expected. In that case D0nnelly win be retained
tnfipid SuNStitutA. uRFl9n although A D
man, is very quick and as active as a cat. He
promises TO be prize with the bat, and with him
nrst the batting stNngth Of the
team should be OF the frst order Should
O'Brten Unexpectedly prove failure Donnelly.
outfield will be the same as last year, Carroll,
Hines and Shock. There Is q possibility that
than Shock, In which case the latter win be re-
tained as substitute. No one who Is at all
familiar with the abilities Of bail players can fail
they can be trained to play together, every at
his beet, they need never go on the ball ned feel
ing that the chances are against them. no mat
ter who their opponents are.
BATTING TRAINING.
Manager Carney intends to devote considerable
attention to the training OF batters before the
league season opens. Several players who have
been in the habit OF smuggling the ball in hopes OF
knocking it out OF the lot, only 10 be caught out
nine times OUT q ten n, hy lhe neidenS win be
instead OF striking at II like cyclone. Single base
hits just over or through the infelders. are what
count most In the long run. The players are TO
have very comfortable quarters in the little club
house In the corner OF the left field They will
have room thirty feet by ten in the clear, ntted
up with fifteen lockers, bath-tub, wash-bastns,
closets &C. From this club house the players will
emerge In body on TO the field at signal. il Is
in q retired corner OF the grounds away from the
public and Is intended exclusively for the players
RAIL- NOTES.
Besides the contracts OF Gilligan and Carroll
President Young has promulgated tho contracts
OF Farrar and Weed with Philadelphia, Ewing
and Schehr with New York and Nash with Boston
Glasscock is on the ground at Indianapolis and
viii take charge OF the team. He wrote FroS1-
dent Young, asking II he was bound by his con-
tract with 81. Louis, and II be was compelled 70
play In Indianapolis or not at all He rooeived
an affirmative reply, coupled With such good ad-
vice as to how to maintain his reputation as an
honest willing bali-player, that he lost no time
IN reporting at Indianapolis. His contract calls
for but 81 000 but he receives 500 advance money
and 500 Tor services ~ captain. As all the other
indianapolis players were watching Giasacock fOr
their cue they win be on hand at an early date
The league still has Lille King. We1dmAn and
NcQuery on its hands from the Kansas Oty-6t
Louis deal. Kansas City VIII take Lille and King
and the other two can be obtained a. surprisingly
The Nationals have an open date on tho 18th OF
April Manager Barnie thinks something OF bring